Airtel Bags Multi-Billion Deal with Nokia for Expanded 4G and 5G Services Across Key Cities and States

Bharti Airtel has awarded a multi-billion deal to telecom gear maker Nokia for expanding its 4G and 5G services across key cities and states in the country. The contract, which was not disclosed in terms of size, includes deploying equipment from Nokia's 5G AirScale portfolio, including base stations, baseband units, and massive MIMO radios.

As per the agreement, Nokia will also modernize Airtel's existing 4G network with multiband radios and baseband equipment that can support both 4G and 5G services. The deal aims to enhance Airtel's 5G network capacity and coverage, providing customers with unparalleled user experience.

Gopal Vittal, vice chairman and MD of Bharti Airtel, stated that the strategic partnership with Nokia will future-proof Airtel's network infrastructure and minimize environmental impact. Airtel will also be leveraging Nokia's MantaRay network management for intelligent network monitoring and management using AI-based tools.

Pekka Lundmark, president and CEO of Nokia, said that the company's industry-leading AirScale portfolio and AI-based services will enhance the energy efficiency of Airtel's network, enabling premium 5G capacity and connectivity with high-quality service.

The deal comes at a time when rival telecom operators are witnessing declining sales due to reduced capital expenditure levels. In the July-September quarter of this year, Ericsson's India sales fell 68% year-on-year, while Nokia's India sales fell 43%.

Airtel recently partnered with Nokia for a green initiative aimed at improving the energy efficiency of its network and reducing carbon emissions. The renewed deal with Nokia is expected to play a significant role in Airtel's network expansion plans and provide customers with improved services.